Page 83 of Wilde Flame

My head jerked back at my mother’s words. “No! That’s not it at all. I’m angry because this is how God’s giving me a family. I spent just a few nights with a woman, using protection, and she got pregnant. I spent years with Rachel and got nothing.”

Mom shrugged. “Maybe that’s because your future wasn’t meant to be with Rachel.”

I looked at Mom and nodded. “You’re right. It wasn’t meant to be with her. And Lilibeth has, in a strange way, helped me see that.”

Dad cleared his throat. “But you’re still angry about having a baby with Lilibeth?”

“No, I’m not angry about that part. I care about Lilibeth. I can’t say that I love her, I have feelings for her, I know that much. It’s just…when I thought about having a family, I pictured it like…” I pointed between my parents. “I thought I would be like this. In love, married, and excited about my future. I’m worried about what people will say. Not for me, but for Lilibeth. The minute Janet Miller finds out, you know she’s going to have it in The Daily Dirt.”

My mother rolled her eyes. “I think I know Lilibeth enough to say that she can handle herself and whatever the gossips throw at her.”

“I just know my emotions are all over the place, and I’m sure Lilibeth feels the same. She told me that she wouldn’t hold me responsible, and I could be as much a part of this as I wanted.”

“I hope you told her you were there a hundred percent,” Dad said.

Nodding, I replied, “I did. I told her that I was all in with helping her. She had to recently move into the garage apartment above her parents’ place, and I talked her into moving in with me.”

Both sets of brows went up this time, as my parents stared at me.

“You asked Lilibeth to move in with you?” Mom asked, attempting to hide a smile.

“I did—and it’s not because of whatever you’re thinking, Mom. I can’t have her living in a tiny apartment. She’s having my baby, and I think it’s my responsibility to at least give her a better place to live. She can have my bedroom, and I’ll move to another room. With the nook off my bedroom, she can make that into a place for the baby, after he or she is born.”

Dad set his spoon down and said, “Sounds like you’ve been thinking about this.”

“I could hardly sleep last night, I was thinking about it so much. Lilibeth said no at first, but I’ve talked her into it. She does have insurance, but I told her whatever out-of-pocket expenses she has, I’ll cover them.”

“That was the right thing to do,” Mom nodded in approval. “Has she told her parents?”

“Tonight. We both agreed to tell our parents. She’s only eight weeks and would like to wait until twelve before telling anyone else. She also wanted to wait until then to move into my place. I’m hoping I can talk her into it earlier.”

Neither of my parents said anything.

“What?” I asked, my gaze bouncing between them.

“Nothing,” they replied in unison.

Narrowing my eyes, I stared at them. “You don’t think I should’ve asked her to move in with me?”

“I think you should do what’s best for the two of you. Is there anything between you?”

“No. We both decided what happened would be a one—um…not permanent. We’re friends, and we’re going to co-parent. Once she has the baby, I can help her find a place to live, if and when she’s ready to move out.”

They looked at each other again—and smiled this time, before my father went back to eating his stew.

“Well, we’re here for both of you for whatever you need,” Mom said. “I, for one, am excited to be a grandmother! Wait until Gus and Nellie find out!”

I started to say something, but she held up a hand. “When you’re ready to tell other people. I understand the desire to wait.”

Releasing a huge breath, I said, “Thank you for both for being so understanding.”

“A baby is a blessing,” my mother said, as tears gathered in her eyes. I knew about her first child, the one she’d had to give up for adoption when she was in high school. My parents had always been honest with all of us kids about that. I also knew how hard that was on my mother. She basically lost her parents over it, which, from the stories I’d heard about my grandparents on my mother’s side, wasn’t that much of a loss at all.

“You’ll let us know if you need anything, Caden?” my dad asked.

“I will. And thank you for…well…for being you. I don’t think I could do this without my family.”

“You’ll both need family. And Lilibeth is going to need you, no matter how much she says she doesn’t. Trust me, I know what an unplanned pregnancy is like. No matter what happens, your father and I are here for you both.”